BTS are known for having taken the road less traveled by many of their K-pop counterparts. With the bare necessities, they debuted, ever hopeful that their hopes and dreams would one day become their realities. Under Bang Si-hyuk’s leadership they rose above the criticisms, complaints, and accusations to become the hottest septet of this century. Yet, even as the accolades were flooding in, and hopes of a post-covid world tour were brewing in the hearts of the fandom, these seven young men had already begun to forge a new path for themselves. Another ‘less traveled’ path that would see them embrace the next chapter in their lives, while honoring their journey thus far.
On June 10, 2022, as ARMYs watched the long-awaited music video for “Yet to Come,” many realized that this song was much more than a title track. In the same breath it felt like an ode to their past, a celebration of their present, and a promise to their future. As the music video played on, the depth of meaning contained in their lyrics began to reveal itself. Even without the English translations viewers could tell this was not a typical comeback. BTS were taking a stand!
“There’s still a lot to learn,
and in my life there’s still a lot to fulfill
If you asked me why,
my heart would tell you
We ain’t about it, the expectations of this world
We ain’t about it, the steps to meet the standards of the best
(We ain’t about it)
Crowns and flowers, countless trophies
(We ain’t about it)” - Doolset
Fast forward to August 2022 and the MTV Video Music Awards (or VMAs) has been a hot potato on social media with many ARMYs still encouraging each other to vote, while at the same time acknowledging that award shows such as this one are not the ‘be-all and end-all’ of BTS’ existence. “We aint about it” was BTS’ way of reminding us (and perhaps themselves as well) that their love for music is what brought them here in the first place, and in the long-term it’s the same sentiment that will sustain them until the very end. A bold position to take and yet one that is definitely reaping its rewards, especially if j-hope’s recent Lollapalooza experience is used as a benchmark.
But back to the VMAs. Like most award shows there always seems to be an element of ambiguity and if one fandom is happy with how things are progressing, you can rest assured that another fandom is not. This year’s VMAs was no exception. Fandoms disagreed on who won awards and how those wins came about while news agencies sensationalized the fact that BTS was ‘beaten’ by other artists. Yet, despite the mayhem that ensued, K-pop in general seemed to be a notable winner - with BTS, Blackpink, and Seventeen all taking home wins.
Credit: MTV
A quick peek at the history of the MTV VMAs shows that it made a name for itself in the music industry when it first debuted in 1984, so this award ceremony has been around for awhile. Once hailed as ‘the’ place to be for youth, three decades later one journalist described the VMAs as “halfhearted, one-dimensional, and quite frankly inexplicable use of airtime.” Debates were brewing as to the long term appeal of music videos and while some may have thought that music videos were on their way out, what we know now is that they are very much here to stay and although the VMAs viewership may have dropped in recent years, this year saw a slight increase. Perhaps the future of this ceremony is looking brighter, especially with K-pop in the mix.
For ARMYs though, BTS’ absence from the VMAs this year did not come as a surprise and as one ARMY mentioned on social media, BTS have already told us that they’re not about the countless trophies. What they ARE about though is dedicating themselves to their chosen artform, music. For the six remaining BTS members who have yet to debut as solo artists, following in the footsteps of j-hope is no easy feat. Yet each member is working towards the release of something that is uniquely theirs. These are definitely exciting times ahead for BTS fans.
As for the VMAs, it may not be everyone's ‘cup of tea’ but it still seems to be a meaningful and relevant platform for many artists and their fans, and that’s okay.
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Written By: Shelley
Edited By: Juju
